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How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality in Whitehall, Ohio

Are you a homeowner living in Whitehall, Ohio? Do you want to improve your home's indoor air quality? If so, you've come to the right place! This article will help homeowners understand the importance of their indoor air quality and how to improve it.

How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality in Whitehall, Ohio

Recommend this Article:

Joshua Rodriguez

Revised:

March 24th, 2023

Did you know that the air inside our homes can be up to five times more polluted than outside air? Taking care of your indoor air quality (IAQ) is not a new phenomenon; however, since the coronavirus pandemic started, many homeowners are beginning to realize how important indoor air quality is.

Below is a list of common indoor air pollutants that affect your home's indoor air quality. 

  • Cleaning chemicals/ products
  • Smoke
  • Mold
  • Bacteria
  • Personal care products
  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • And other common allergies

At Fire and Ice, we believe that your home's indoor air quality is one of the most important concepts regarding your HVAC system.

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To help homeowners in Whitehall, Ohio, improve their overall indoor air quality, we have put together an article explaining what indoor air quality is, why it’s important, ways you can improve your IAQ, and the products we recommend using to combat poor indoor air quality.

Let’s get started!

What Is Indoor Air Quality?

According to the EPA, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is the quality of air within and around homes or buildings and how it relates to the homeowner's overall health and wellness. Short-term and long-term exposure to indoor air pollutants can cause a variety of issues, including, but not limited to:

  • Respiratory diseases
  • Heart disease
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Strokes
  • Impair immune response
  • And even cancer

In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that up to 3.2 million people die prematurely from illnesses associated with poor indoor air quality and indoor pollutants.

5 Ways To Improve Your Indoor Air Quality In Whitehall, Ohio

At this point, you may wonder if your home's air is safe and you and your loved ones. Don’t worry; this section will explore some of the best services and products to combat indoor air pollution and improve your home’s indoor air quality.  

These methods include controlling your indoor humidity, regularly changing filters, scheduling regular maintenance, and an air duct cleaning service. Keep reading to learn about each method, its benefits, and how they relate to your home’s IAQ.

1.  Control Your Homes Humidity

The humidity in your home is as important as your home's temperature when it comes to your comfort. As a rule of thumb, the sweet spot for your home's indoor humidity should be between 30-60%.

Several problems can be caused by high humidity, such as the growth of mold and mildew, dust mites, and hot second stories, and can even contribute to a bad night's sleep.

On the other hand, some problems are caused by low humidity, including cracked skin, a dry throat, cold spots, and structural issues with your home, and can increase your overall risk of illnesses.

Also Read: What’s the Best Humidity Level For Your Home, and How Do You Control It?

So, how does a homeowner control their home’s humidity? The three best ways to control your home’s humidity are by investing in a whole-home humidifier, dehumidifier, or a combination of both.

Whole-Home Humidifier

It is an HVAC system add-on that connects directly to your HVAC system that adds moisture (up to 11 gallons per day). There are a few types of whole-home humidifiers which include:

     Bypass Humidifier: these humidifiers use the airflow that is generated by your furnace’s blower fan to evaporate air. The warm air from your furnace causes the moisture to evaporate, which is sent through your ductwork into the air you breathe.

     Power Humidifier: works like a bypass humidifier but has its own fan inside. This way, it doesn't have to rely on the furnace to facilitate moving humidity through your ductwork into your home’s air cycle

     Steam Humidifier: as the name implies, it boils water to create steam, which sends the steam through the ductwork and into your home.

Related Content: How Does a Whole-House Humidifier Work?

Whole-Home Dehumidifier

Is used to reduce the moisture in your home's air. Did you know that excess moisture in your home is the perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew, musty odors, and dust mites?

There are two different types of whole-home dehumidifiers: ducted and stand-alone:

     Ducted Dehumidifier: this is a dehumidifier that is directly installed into your existing ductwork. On average, this is the most efficient way to reduce high humidity levels, preserve your valuables, and save money on your monthly energy bills.

     Stand-Alone Dehumidifier: this method is free-standing, which means it’s not connected to your HVAC system. Like a ducted dehumidifier, it will reduce high humidity levels and energy bills; however, unlike the ducted dehumidifier, a stand-alone dehumidifier can be unplugged and re-installed if you decide to move.

Related Content: Is a Whole-Home Dehumidifier Right for Me?

2.  Invest In Air Purification Products

There are also other indoor air quality products on the market that will take your home's indoor air purification to the next level, such as the Reme Halo and Halo LED.

     Reme Halo: is a whole-home air purifier that uses UV lights for air purification. It is installed into your existing ductwork that uses vaporized hydrogen peroxide to neutralize musty odors, bacteria, and even the coronavirus.

Also Read: Reme Halo Air Purifier & COVID-19: Proven Effective Against Coronavirus

     Halo LED:  this is the newest technological advancement in air purification products. Unlike the Reme Halo, it uses LED lights to neutralize pesky odors, bacteria, and air pollution. It also has greater efficiency with zero ozone creation, which is a win for you and Mother Nature!

 

3.  Frequent Filter Changes

One of the most common culprits of poor indoor air quality is a dirty air filter. Your filter catches dust, debris, hair, pet dander, and more. Thus, a dirty air filter can't capture the impurities moving through your ducts and will lessen your overall IAQ and interfere with your HVAC systems' energy efficiency.

On average, a standard one-inch filter should be changed at least every 30 days, and a four-inch media filter can last between six to twelve months.

Regardless of the type of filter you have in your HVAC system, as a general guideline, homeowners should check their filters at least once or twice a month.

However, it's important to note that everyone's living habits are different, and if you have multiple kids, pets, or both, your furnace filter will fill up quicker than someone with no kids or pets.

 

At Fire and Ice, we highly recommend using Aprilaire’s Whole-Home Air Cleaner, our number-one suggested product to homeowners, improving your home's indoor air quality.

An Aprilaire filter is included with every installation. This filter can remove indoor pollutants, protect your home, and create a healthy environment for you and your loved ones.

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If you want to learn more about other air filters and how they affect your home’s indoor air quality, check out this article: Indoor Air Quality: Air Filtration & Air Purifying HVAC Products.

4.  Schedule Regular Maintenance

Along with frequently changing your HVAC filters, you should also be scheduling annual maintenance. Both of your systems, indoor and outdoor, should be serviced at least once a year.

Our HVAC professionals recommend once in the spring (for your AC) and in the fall (for your furnace or heat pump). During these appointments, your HVAC technician will run a diagnostic, clean any debris in or around your unit, and check for any signs of bacteria build-up.

Having your HVAC tune-up and checked out before the next season hits will help keep your HVAC system running efficiently, your warranties intact, and catch potential problems before they become more detrimental. 

Nevertheless, if you are a homeowner who tends to forget about scheduling their annual tune-up or changing your air filters, then one of our maintenance agreements would be perfect for you.

We offer three types of plans, bronze, silver, and gold. Each plan has its benefits, but it’s ultimately up to the homeowner to choose the best plan for them and their budget. You can learn more about our maintenance agreements by visiting our maintenance service agreement page by clicking here!

5.  Air Duct Cleaning

Last but certainly not least, investing in an air duct cleaning can do wonders for your residential HVAC system. Dirty air ducts are one of the main causes of frequent HVAC problems homeowners face.

What Is an Air Duct Cleaning?

An air duct cleaning is cleaning the ductwork inside your home. Think about this: Your air ducts are how your conditioned air travels throughout your home, so why wouldn't they need a little TLC like every other part of your HVAC system?

At Fire and Ice, we use a combination of compressed air and a truck-mounted vacuum. After conducting a vast number of air duct cleanings, we have found that using a combination of a truck-mounted vacuum and compressed air is the most efficient way to clean any type of ductwork.

Our air duct cleaning includes cleaning the supply and return vents, all vents and grilles, and the internal chambers of your ductwork.

There are six main benefits of investing in an air duct cleaning, including

1. A cleaner home
2. Reduces allergens and irritants
3. Improved airflow through your HVAC system
4. Removes unpleasant smells and odors
5. Extends the life of your HVAC system
6. You and your loved ones will breathe easier

 On top of that, our duct cleaning services go above and beyond to check/clean the drain pans, blower motors, heat exchangers, and evaporator coils.

Breathing Easier With Fire and Ice

At Fire and Ice, we know how important your home’s indoor air quality is for you, your home, and your loved ones. Because of this, we offer the best of the best when it comes to our indoor air quality services, products, and maintenance.

We know we aren't the right fit for all homeowners; however, we believe in everything we do and strive to make your heating, cooling, and ventilation experience a breeze.

So, whether you reside in Whitehall, Ohio, or one of our other service area locations, we’d love to have one of our sales associates come and explain all of the benefits of improving your indoor air quality, as well as your options and prices!

Call or fill out the form below to start your IAQ journey with Fire and Ice today! We look forward to serving you.

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